Ladies&#39; handbag



Dec. 20, 1955 N. KASDAN 2,727,548

LADIES HANDBAG Filed Feb. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 20, 1955 N. KASDAN 2,727,548

LADIES HANDBAG Filed Feb. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,727,548 LADIES HANDBAG Nathan Kasdan, Plainfield, Conm, assignor to Majestic Metal Specialties, Inc., Moosu Cnn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 28, 1955, Serial No. 491,102 18 Claims. (Cl. 15028) This invention relates to ladies handbags, and more particularly to a composite bag having an inner load carrying part, and an outer protective shell spaced from said load carrying part.

the free ends of the legs of the U, said legs being of graduated length so that the strips can overlap. The bag has been made with a substantial spacing between strips, so ribs of a basket rather than as a continuous shell. This basket has been made collapsible in that it may be turned inside out with all of the strips disposed in a common plane.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve ladies handbags of the specified character. A more particular object is to improve the appearance of the outer shell and to increase the protection afforded thereby. For this purpose I employ strips'of appreciable width, and I use so many strips that even when the bag is closed, the strips form a complete shell, that is, they overlap slightly, or at worst come edge to edge, instead of being widely spaced apart as though they were ribs.

A further object of the invention is to limit the opening of the shell to a desired small amount, say one-fourth its circumference, to guard against loss of contents. For this purpose a strand of flexible material extending around the strips to space the same, has so short a length of free strand between strips that opening of the bag is limited to the desired amount.

A further object of tents of the bag safely, including slender a lipstick, pen, or pencil. For this purpose the bag is provided with a continuous liner or inner load carrying part, which has one edge secured to one topmost strip, and the other edge to the other topmost strip.

In accordance with a further feature and object of the objects such as For this purpose. the liner preferably consists of a relatively stiff material, and its circumference or girth is made substantially smaller than the circumference or girth of the shell when the bag is closed. Its stiffness causes it to assume a curved shape, with its bottom well spaced from the bottom of the shell. Of course, when the bag is opened its circumferential length is reduced by overlapping of the strips, until finally the girth of the shell is reduced to the girth of the liner, at which time the liner approaches and may even rest on the shell. However, because of its stiffness, the liner still carries its load, and indeed it may be used as a means to itself prevent further opening of the shell beyond the desired opening.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and other more specific objects which will tion resides in the handbag shell and liner elements, and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more parthe invention is to hold the con hereinafter appear, my inven-j ticularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a partially sectioned front elevation of a ladys handbag embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section through a few of the strips, drawn to enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a similar section, but with the strips overlapped, as when the bag is opened;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but drawnto enlarged scale to explain a detail of construction;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the bag in open condition;

Fig. 7 is a section taken approximately in the plane of the line 77 of Fig. l, with the liner or load carrying part of the bag removed;

Fig. 8 shows the patterning of one end of the liner, spread open flat;

Fig. 9 shows the part of the liner;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but looking at the outside or concealed face of the end piece of the liner; and

Fig. ll is a view similar to Fig. 9 but looking at the outside or concealed face of the liner.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2, the ladys patterning of the stiffened or main change from Figs. 2 and 7, in Fig. '6 in which the bag is opened.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, there is a strand of flexible material 24 which extends around and is secured to each .of the strips. In the present case this is a flat strand of flexible plastic material which extends around the inside of the strips, and which is secured to each of the strips by means of a metal clip 26 which passes through the strip, and which is clamped tightly about the strand on the inside *of the strip, as is best shown in Fig. 5. The clip may be grooved or otherwise ornamented on its outside face, and acts as an ornament for the shell. From inspection of Figs. 2 and 3,

closed shell, I of an open basket. The strand 24 insures the proper distributionof the strips when the bag is closed.

Moreover, the strand may be used also to limit the opening of the bag, and for this purpose the length of free strand between strips is kept appropriately short.

upper edge of strip 16 as strip14 moves over strip 16, and the same applies to strips 16 and 18, so that the degree of overlap illustrated in Fig. 4 represents the maximum possible. overlap. This condition applies to substantially the entire bag, as shown in Fig. 6, although there the opening is simultaneously or additionally limited by the liner itself, as will be described later.

From inspection of Fig. 2, it will be understood that strips of diminishing size are used on one side of the shell, while similar strips of diminishing size (with primed numerals) are used on the other side of the shell. The ends of these strips overlap at the pivots 20 and 22. This will also be clear from inspection of Fig. 7, which shows one end of the shell, looking from inside with the liner removed, and it will be seen that there is a sequential overlap from one side to the other of the shell. In practice there are two strips of each size, arranged symmetrically, except for the smallest strip 30, of which there is only one disposed at the bottom center of the shell. The overlap at the ends requires merely a slight bend or springing of the ends inward or outward, along the axis of the pivots 20 and 22.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the liner L consists of a main circumferential portion 32, and two end portions, one of which is shown at 34, and the other of which is not shown but is similar to the end portion 34. The circumferential portion 32 preferably consists of a relatively stiff sheet of material, such as fibreboard shown at 36 in Fig. 2, covered on the inside with a suitable lining fabric 38, which may be silk or the like. The outside also may be covered as shown at 40. One edge 42 of the liner is secured to one top strip 12, while the other end 44 is secured to the other top strip 12'.

The circumference or girth of the liner is substantially smaller than the circumference or girth of the shell, thus leaving a substantial space, shown at 48 in Fig. 2. The liner is sufficiently stiff to maintain the curved shape shown in Fig. 2, and thus the liner carries the contents of the bag independently of the shell. When the bag is opened and the strips overlap as shown in Fig. 6, the circumferential dimension of the shell is reduced until finally the liner rests against the shell. If a mere fabric liner were employed, the shell might open further, with consequent folding or wrinkling of the liner, but with the construction here employed the liner itself prevents further opening of the shell.

The bag is preferably so designed that opening of the bag is limited about the same amount both ways, that is, by the strand action shown in Fig. 4, and by the stiff liner action shown in Fig. 6.

The bag is carried by a pair of similar handles 50 and 52. These are preferably inverted U shaped handles, which are preferably rigidly secured to the top strips 12 and 12' respectively. These upstanding handles are a great convenience in opening the bag, for it is merely necessary to pull the handles apart. In practice the handles are secured in position by screws 54, and these same screws are preferably used to fixedly secure the edges of the liner to the top strips of the shell. The lower ends of the handle may be provided with enlargements or beads 56 which ornament the appearance of the bag, and also may help to rigidify the attachment of the handle to the top strip.

The bag is held closed by a detent mechanism, here illustrated as a conventional arrangement of knobs 60 which spring past one another. Each knob is fixedly riveted to its top strip, but the arrangement is resilient in a direction parallel to the axis of the pivots, because of the yieldability of the strips as a whole.

The liner may be described in greater detail with reference to Figs. 8-11 of the drawing. The main circumferential portion 32 is shown in Figs. 9 and 11, and it will be seen that it is provided with metal eyelets 62 at the remote edges. The attaching screws pass through these eyelets into the lower ends of the handles, thus affording a strong mounting. One part of the liner may have a suitable pleated pocket 64 stitched thereto, and in practice this is stitched to the fabric before the fabric is cemented to the stitf fibreboard. Fig. 11 shows the back or the outside of the liner, and illustrates how the edges of the fabric covering of the liner are folded around the edges of the stiffening member, as indicated at 66, 68 and 70.

The end portions are generally arcuate, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. The arcuate piece is notched at 72, and subsequently the sides of the notch are stitched together, as shown at 73 in Fig. 6, in order to help shape the end piece. The end piece is preferably made of front and back fabrics. The front fabric faces the inside of the bag, and is open to view when the bag is opened. It is preferably a vertically ribbed or closely pleated material, as indicated at 74 in Fig. 8. The outside material may be a smooth material, indicated at 76 in Fig. 10. These are stitched together by a line of stitching indicated at 78. Buckram is cemented or/and stitched therebetween to give more body to the ends, but they remain quite flexible compared to the stiff part 32 of the liner. The inside material 74 is more extensive than the outside material 76, and projects outward and downward as shown in Fig. 10. This excess material is not stilfened, and is readily turned inward and secured to the outside of the stiff circumferential piece 32 when bent as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It may be cemented or stitched or both. The stiff piece 32 is preferably narrowed at the middle, as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 11, and also in Fig. l. The length of the curved periphery of the end piece corresponds to the length of the curved edge of piece 32. Two ends are secured to piece 32 to form a complete liner. The liner is held in the shell by the screws 54 (Fig. 6) passing through the eyelets 62 (Fig. 9). The arrangement of the ends is such that the bag may be opened or closed, with consequent movement of the end pieces, but without the end pieces falling either inward into the bag, or moving outward and catching between the metal strips.

It is believed that the method of constructing and assembling my improved handbag, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The metal strips may be ornamentally finished, as by means of gold plating or silver or chrome plating. Alternate strips may be finished brightly, with the intermediate strips given a dull or satin finish for contrast. Alternate strips may be given a gold color and the intermediate strips a silver color for contrast. All of the strips, or alternate strips, may be given a tint such as light blue or pin It will be understood that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure shown, without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be claimed in the following claims. In the claims the reference to a complete shell means that the strips come substantially edge to edge as here shown, even when the bag is closed, in contrast with strips which act as the spaced apart ribs of an open basket.

I claim:

1. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U to form a generally cylindrical shell with closed ends, the said legs being of graduated length so that the strips can overlap when the bag is opened, a strand of flexible material extending around the strips, means securing each of the strips to the strand, said strand acting as a spacer to distribute the strips to form a complete shell when the bag is closed, the length of free strand between strips being so short that the opening of the bag is limited to a desired small amount.

2. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U to form a generally cylindrical shell with closed ends, the said legs being of graduated length so that the strips can overlap when the bag is opened, a strand of flexible material extending around the inside of the strips, a metal clip passing through each of the strips and clamped about the strand to secure the strand to the strip, said strand acting as a spacer to distribute the strips around the shell.

gram-4s 1 3. A ladys handbagcomprising a pluralityof flat' strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at thefree ends of the legs of the U to form a generallycylindrical shell with the said legs being of the legs of the U to form a generally cylindrical shell with the said legs being of graduated length so that the strips can overlap when the bag is opened, inverted U shaped handles rigidly secured to the topmost strips to facilitate opening of the bag, a strand of flexible material extending around the inside of the strips, a metal clip passing through each of the strips and clamped about the strand to secure the strand to the strip, said strand acting as a spacer to distribute the strips to form a complete shell when the bag is closed, the

shell to hold the contents of the bag.

5. A ladys handbag comprising a shell made up of a series of strips bent to U shape and pivoted at the free ends of the legs of the U, and a liner insaid shell, said secured to one topmost strip and the other edge of said liner to the other topmost strip, for said liner, said liner being middle portion than, at the upper to make room for said arcuate end when the bag is closed.

8 A ladys handbag comprising a shell made up of a 9. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U to form a generally cylindrical shell with closed ends, the said legs being ofgraduated length so shell with closed ends, the said legs 6 that the strips can overlap when the bag is opened, a strand of flexible material extending around the strips, means securing each of the strips to the strand, said strand acting as a spacer to distribute the strips to form a complete shell when the bag is closed, the length of free strand between strips being so short that opening of the bag is amount, and a liner inside the of the bag, said liner consisting of a sheet of lining material, one edge of said liner being secured to one topmost strip and the other edge of said liner to the other topmost strip.

10. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free to form a generally cylindrical strand to the strip,

form a complete shell when the bag of free strand between strips being so short that opening of the bag is limited to a desired liner inside the shell to hold the contents of the bag, said liner consisting of a material, one edge of said liner being secured to one topmost strip and the other edge of said liner to the other topmost strip, and arcuate end pieces for said liner, said arcuate end pieces.

11. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U to form a length so that the strips can overlap material, secured to one topmost strip and the other edge of said liner to the other topmost strip, the circumference or girth of the liner being substantially ference or girth bag has been opened a desired amount.

12. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free bag has been opened a desired amount.

13. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U to form a generally cylindrical shell with closed ends, the said legs being of graduated sheet of lining length so that the strips can overlap when the bag is opened, inverted U-shaped handles rigidly secured to the topmost strips to facilitate opening of the bag, a strand of flexible material extending around the inside of the strips, a metal clip passing through each of the strips and clamped about the strand to secure the strand to the strip, said strand acting as a spacer to distribute the strips to form a complete shell when the bag is closed, the length of free strand between strips being so short that opening of the bag is limited to a desired small amount, and a liner inside the shell to hold the contents of the bag, said liner consisting of relatively stifl fibrous material covered with a suitable lining fabric, one edge of said liner being secured to one topmost strip, the other edge of said liner to the other topmost strip, and arcuate end pieces for said liner, said liner being narrower at the lower middle portion than at the upper edge portions in order to make room for said arcuate end pieces.

14. A ladys handbag comprising a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U to form a generally cylindrical shell with closed ends, the said legs being of graduated length so that the strips can overlap when the bag is opened, inverted U-shaped handles rigidly secured to the topmost strips to facilitate opening of the bag, a strand of flexible material extending around the inside of the strips, a metal clip passing through each of the strips and clamped about the strand to secure the strand to the strip, said strand acting as a spacer to distribute the strips to form a complete shell when the bag is closed, and a liner inside the shell to hold the contents of the bag, said liner consisting of relatively stiff fibrous material, one edge of said liner being secured to one topmost strip, the other edge of said liner to the other topmost strip, and arcuate end pieces for said liner, said liner being narrower at the lower middle portion than at the upper edge portions in order to make room for said arcuate end pieces, the circumference or girth of the liner being substantially smaller than the circumference or girth of the shell, whereby the liner carries the contents of the bag independently of the shell when the bag is closed, the said liner reaching the inside of said shell and arresting further opening of the bag when the bag has been opened a desired amount.

15. A ladys handbag comprising a composite bag having an inner load carrying part and an outer protective shell spaced from said load carrying part, said outer protective shell being made up of a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U, and a strand of flexible material for spacing the strips, and said load carrying part consisting of relatively stiff material, one edge being secured to one topmost strip, the other edge being secured to the other topmost strip, and the circumference or girth of the load carrying part being substantially smaller than that of the shell when the bag is closed, but approaching that of the shell when the bag is opened. 7

16. A ladys handbag comprising a composite bag having an inner load carrying part and an outer protective shell spaced from said load carrying part, said outer protective shell being made up of a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U, handle assemblies secured to the topmost strips to facilitate opening of the bag, and a strand of flexible material for spacing the strips, and said load carrying part consisting of relatively stiff material, one edge being fixedly secured to one topmost strip by screws which pass through the strip into one handle assembly, the other edge being fixedly secured to the other topmost strip by screws which pass through the strip into the other handle assembly, and the circumference or girth of the load carrying part being substantially smaller than that of the shell when the bag is closed, but approaching that of the shell when the bag is opened.

17. A ladys handbag comprising a composite bag having an inner load carrying part and an outer protective shell spaced from said load carrying part, said outer protective shell being made up of a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U, inverted U-shaped handles rigidly secured to the topmost strips to facilitate opening of the bag, a strand of flexible material for spacing the strips, and said load carrying part consisting of relatively stiff material, one edge being fixedly secured to one topmost strip by screws which pass through the strip into one handle to also hold the handle, the other edge being secured to the other topmost strip by screws which pass through the strip into the other handle to also hold the handle, the circumference or girth of the load carrying part being substantially smaller than that of the shell when the bag is closed, but approaching that of the shell when the bag is opened.

18. A ladys handbag comprising a composite bag having an inner load carrying part and an outer protective shell spaced from said load carrying part, said outer protective shell being made up of a plurality of flat strips bent to U shape and pivoted together at the free ends of the legs of the U, inverted U shaped handles rigidly secured to the topmost strips to facilitate opening of the bag, a strand of flexible material extending around the inside of the strips, and a metal clip passing through each of the strips and clamped about the strand, and said load carrying part consisting of relatively stiff material, one edge being fixedly secured to one topmost strip by screws which pass through the strip into one handle, the other edge being secured to the other topmost strip by screws which pass through the strip into the other handle, the circumference or girth of the load carrying part being substantially smaller than that of the shell when the bag is closed, but approaching that of the shell when the bag is opened.

References 'Citedin the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,002,076 Moore Aug. 29, 1911 1,327,339 Logan Jan. 6, 1920 1,450,570 Zukerberg Apr. 3, 1923 1,505,012 Distefano Aug. 12, 1924 1,839,052 Richardson Dec. 29, 1931 

